Holy Week

We aren't away for the week, there are no games or practices on the calendar and the math is in the drawer.  We are in Holy Week.  We have entered into quietness and reflection; perhaps we should have been here 30 days ago but here we are none-the-less.

Our plans from last year are pretty much the same.  I've updated a few things for various reasons; one being that I was asked (months ago) to be a good friend's confirmation sponsor.  That has this week a bit busier than normal.  So I've opted to write out a menu plan w/ any crafts or activities along with it. 

For quick references though, I have the previous posts a click away

Triduum Sacrum

Good Friday Lenten Tea & more
There is a linky (link) at the end of this post too :)

Monday

Tea time:   Lenten Ark readings
Dinner:      Lentil and Barley Stew

Reading:    Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs: The Story of The Easter Symbols
Activity:    2011 Paschal Candle

Jessica shared her family's new Paschal Candle for this year on her blog.  I was so happy to see it.  Because of time, or the lack of it, we also used Evann's printed Paschal Candle wrap for last year's candle.  It was perfect.  But having done a more hands on candle a few years ago, I wanted the kids to be more involved with this year's candle.   I purchased Illuminated Ink's Paschal Candle kit a few weeks ago for our family (I got an extra one for a gift, it makes a great Easter basket addition) and hopefully it'll come out as nice as the picture shows :).

A bit on our Forty Days and Forty Nights: A Lenten Ark Moving Towards Easter.  I highly recommend this.  It's been an easy and beautiful addition to our readings.  The best part of it for me is that it stands as another visual for the kids.  We couldn't always keep up with the readings; mainly because we were home so little, but I'm glad we had it.

Tuesday

Tea time:    Lenten Readings
Dinner:      Tilapia Fish tacos

Activity:    Decorating eggs using Luba's Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating Kit - Super Color Kit 

Reading:    Rechenka's Eggs (Paperstar) and The Bird's Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story

I purchased our kit from Hearth Song.  It looks like a detailed project but, Lucy is quite excited about it.  ~ This site has some pretty ideas and projects on this style of egg decorating.  They also give out one free design.

For the majoring of egg decorating we will just use the colorful eggs provided by our lovely hens.  They lay pretty colored eggs in browns and green-blue tones.  Keeping them plain or painted with acrylics, we stuff them with confetti and little notes.  It makes for a messy but fun activity on Easter Sunday.

Wednesday

Tea time:   Lenten Readings
Dinner:     Grilled Salmon and some veggies

Activity:   Catholic Icing's Last Supper craft
Reading:    The Easter Story

Mandy Thursday

Dinner:     Fish Stew

Activity:   making Judases w/ the kids and deep cleaning our home
Attending Mass

Good Friday

Morning:           Hot Cross Buns (w/o the icing for today)
Liturgical Tea:   Our Lenten Tea
Dinner:              I'm not sure yet what to do here.  I want something simple.
Resources:        Alice Gunther provided the blue prints to our Liturgical Teas as did Catholic Cuisine

Sabbatum Sanctum

Morning:            Hot Cross Buns (w/ the icing :o))
Dinner:              Papi's chose :0)

Activity:            Resurrection Cookies:  I'll be at a retreat today so our planning is simple.
Reading:            The Easter Story: According To The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John from the King James Bible

Easter!

With my father-in-law still undergoing chemotherapy our traditional feasting at Grandma's and Grandpa's has been changed a bit.  We'll be celebrating the resurrection and His promise fulfilled at my MIL home.

A Lamb shaped cake will hopefully make it  be on the table

We purchased the Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick 3-D Cake Mold, Spring Lamb some time last year.  It was so cute (sorry no pictures).
There are other options but this one was too cute not to try and make. 

Other than that the menu is still up in the air.  This year w/ my FIL cancer diagnoses and other personal concerns, celebrations have taken on a deeper meaning.  It is definitely less about the food and more about the time spent with some special people.

Please keep us in your prayers as you are in ours!

God bless!

"They placed Him in a tomb of stone,

Dead, all helpless, and alone.

But Easter morn, before the light,

He rose alive in glory bright! "

~ From The Story of the Redemption for Children

Lacy @ Catholic Icing
http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/2011/04/ultimate-guide-for-celebrating-holy.html
 has a linky page going on. 
There are LOTS of wonderful ideas to try with your family.

Palm Sunday

“(H)e should have despaired of himself and human existence had he not found the One who accomplishes what we of ourselves cannot accomplish; the One who raises us up to the heights of God in spite of our wretchedness: Jesus Christ who from God came down to us and, in his crucified love, takes us by the hand and lifts us on high.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI

speaking referring to St. Augustine of Hippo as he addresses the faithful on Palm Sunday

My prayers are with all as we enter the Holiest of all weeks

and seek the One within our own lives

God bless you all!

*this moment*

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see

Our moment in baseball/softball season

and yet another Book Review

Once a month a group of the most amazing youths come over to my house for a book club.  We started this club to engage in some literary discussions while sipping tea and munching on cookies.  I have to say that I love my group of 10 teens.  They are bright, strong (headed), goofy and I just adore our time together.

The kids choose the books we read; but once in a while I come across stories that need some attention too.  The Mysterious Benedict Society is just one of those books.  Some where in this bloggin' world I heard about The Mysterious Benedict Society, I wish I could remember where :).  It's the first of a trilogy and involves 4 of your most brightest children in the world, adventures and friendship. 

There is a lot packed into this first book.  

More than adventure the book delves into issues of abandonment, insecurities, loyalty and control.  We are invited to join eleven year old Reynie Muldoon as he answers a newspaper ad calling for "gifted children looking for special opportunities."  He joins an elite group of kids through riddles, twisted plots and turns.  Their goal, to save the world from the controlling (and loony) Mr. Curtain.

As a parent there was nothing in the book that would give me caution.  Most sites rate this book for grades 5-9, but as an adult I enjoyed it.

Book 2, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey is next.

Book Review

It's been a long Lenten season for me and I've stayed away from much of the blogging world during it.  Some of it was intentional and some of it came from just being so crazy busy.  There hasn't been too much time left over to go on the computer.  And when there was time, husband dear would throw "that" look my way.  Thus no computer.

There have also been lots of books added to my reading list.  There are a few books I want to post about but I'll wait until after Easter to do so.  Today I wanted to post about this...



Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

I joined a book club through my county library and this was the newest book to read and discuss about. I thought it was FABULOUS.

Why?

Well it was a glimpse to a people truly not seen enough.  It was about simple people, people like my mother frankly (no, she is NOT Muslim).  The people from this story are poor, humble, fair and uncomplicated. 

On a side note:  I know the ugliness of extremists.  I've been in enough conferences and discussion groups about Islam to know what many think about Islam.  This is not a post about that nor do I want to go there.

The book is a gem.  One man began a journey to climb a huge mountain, K2.  He failed.  In that failure  a new path was opened.  It led him to a remarkable journey.  He found a bigger mountain to climb in the poverty of small villages all through out Pakistan.  Greg Mortenson met children so in love with education they would endure the severe cold, sit without a teacher on the frozen ground and use the dirt floor as a writing tablet.  Mr. Mortenson dedicated his life to these children.  Opening schools throughout the most remote, forgotten villages of Pakistan. 

I personally liked it, though I heard that some from the book club 'hated' it.  Should make for an interesting meeting :)

St. Joseph's Altar

Celebrating with family and friends

Our 2011

St. Joseph's Altar

My SIL graciously opened her home

and together we planned this evening of

prayer, food, crafts, and stories

We began our evening together with the

Litany of Saint Joseph

Our evening involved a potluck event with our co-op

which made this extra nice

Here my friend made a homemade "sweet bread" breaded into a crown

for Jesus' crown of thorns

~ Craft Time ~

The kids had quite the chose of crafts

from coloring pages to St. Joseph's little pocket window crafts

The coloring pages were free from

Holy Heroes

&

Homeschool Goodies

I had the St. Joseph's window pocket from

my Teacher's Helper CD

by Nippert's & Co Artworks

(picture to come soon)

~ Reading Time ~

My SIL read a section of

More Coffee With Nonna: Stories of My Italian Grandmother

and we had several books for the kids to read at their leisure

 

It was a beautiful celebration

among good fellowship

giving thanks to

San Guiseppe

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,

be mindful of me, pray for me, watch over me.

Guardian of the paradise of the new Adam,

provide for my temporal wants.

Faithful guardian of the most precious of all treasures,

I beseech thee to bring this matter to a happy end,

if it be for the glory of God and the good of my soul.

Amen.

St. Patrick's Day

It was a green busy green day around here.  With appointments starting early (like 7am early) the kids and I found ourselves driving to and fro a lot.  But that is the current way of things here.  Thus the late post of this day.  I still have St. Joseph's feast day to post about too....

But this didn't mean we couldn't, or didn't, have a little something for good St. Patrick though.

The kids made their version of Lacy's puppet idea.  Then they made a little play using the 4 St. Padricks...quite a creative version of a saint I might add.

Princess and her St. Paddy

 Rose and Max

On display for the day

I knew I wasn't going to get an Irish dinner on the table and potatoes is a big no no for Rose right now,

so we opted for a

St. Patrick's Tea & Craft

instead

Our St. Patrick books weren't in from the library yet

So we read

Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato

and

St. Patrick

My little helpers



Princess waits patiently for tea

We talked throughout the day of the mystery of the Trinity 

and enjoyed some quiet time together

I bind unto myself today

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.

By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan river;

His death on Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spicèd tomb;

His riding up the heavenly way;

His coming at the day of doom;*

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,

The service of the seraphim,

Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,

The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,

All good deeds done unto the Lord,

And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit heaven,

The glorious sun's life-giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea,

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward,

The word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptation force,

The natural lusts that war within,

The hostile men that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place and in all hours,

Against their fierce hostility,

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,

Against false words of heresy,

Against the knowledge that defiles,

Against the heart's idolatry,

Against the wizard's evil craft,

Against the death wound and the burning,

The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,

Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong Name of the Trinity;

By invocation of the same.

The Three in One, and One in Three,

Of Whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Well, why not?

At the dinner table tonight a serious discussion was started by Lucy.  She has been exploring careers in her class with her cousins and was sharing this with her Papi and I.  

Lucy: "I just know what I'd like to do but this would be great too.  But I don't know if it can happen."

Papi:  "Mija, if you want to try something and you think you would like it as a career than go for it."

Lucy: pauses for a bit

(in between bites chimes in her opinion)
Rose:  "Why don't you just be a Jedi?"

By request I used it, something and this as fillers instead of what Lucy was really referring too. 

A most important request

Our prayer is now including a family who has suffered the lost of seven of their eight children

I can not begin to imagine the grief of these parents. 

Oh Dearest Mother,

hold them tightly under your mantle

embrace them in love

sharing tears of grief with them

May God ease their pain soon,

Amen

Please keep them in your prayers....

The article can be found here 

40 bags in

40 days

From the Archdiocese of Cincinnati:

Every day during Lent this year, empty one bag of ‘stuff’ that is no longer needed from your house, totaling a loss of forty bags of stuff!

1.) Taking a look at the size of your family and household, with an acknowledgement of how much ‘stuff’ is present, make a prudential choice on the size of bag to be employed during this challenge. Bag size should be small enough that the goal of 40 bags during the season of Lent is able to be accomplished, while not being too big that you are left with nothing. We must still live in the world, after all!

2.) If smaller children are a part of your family, a ‘gauge’ may be helpful to keep them engaged and help them keep track of progress. As part of your preparations, make a ‘paper chain’ of forty numbered links. As each new bag is started, place a new link in the bottom of the bag. This way, as the chain gets smaller, there is a greater sense of accomplishment.

3.) This challenge necessarily involves sacrifice. Each member of the family should be encouraged to give something to each bag, or there could be designated bags for each member of the family.

4.) Instead of just throwing things away, recycling is a great way to encourage good stewardship of the gifts we have been given, as it symbolizes that we are passing along our gifts to others. Families with children are encouraged to pass along clothes that no longer fit or toys that sit dormant in a closet to families in need instead of just throwing them away.

5.) Units of count need not necessarily be trash bags, either; however they should be equivalent. For example, a box of gently used toys or clothes could equate one bag off the chain. A stack of books donated to the parish library is another easy equivalent.

As the family accepts this challenge together, bonds will be created that will last a lifetime. Lessons are also learned not just by saying, but by putting it into practice. Here, the simple lesson will last throughout life that having fewer things can lead to a greater contentment in life.

We did a good job of this last year and you'll find quite a few post on it around the Catholic Blogs.  Some are from faith & family, Jeanette's, and here.  The idea is simple and the process of filling up those bags can be changed up to suit your family and family size.

So, grab a bag, some rags for a quick clean up and get to those closets.  You know the area (wink wink)

How ever it's done though, this is a great way to declutter and simplify your homes. 

Good luck!

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.

~St. Therese of Lisieux

A talk with Jesus

Our Lenten calendar is undone.
Our prayer table is simpler than in years past.
Our daily schedule lingers around crazy
and
There is clutter everywhere, and here I had planned to walk into Lent geared up and cleaner.

Cleaner?

I chuckled really when the letters formed the word.  I suppose I would have preferred to have been caught up with the laundry.  But though it's not, I am getting ready for something greater.  I am preparing my heart for a unity in prayer and lengthy conversations with the very one I am drawn too.  My God and my love here I am.  With some baggage to deal with and a bit of sorrow to give you too.

But

I also have joy to share.  An open door for you to come in and do what is necessary.  Show me Jesus.  I am following you into that desert.  I'm gearing up for it and bringing some kiddos and a hubby along with me too.  You may know them (wink wink). 

There is a quiet place that awaits for you.  I am teary up just thinking about it because I know your love and I know you have loads to show us.

The new day marks the beginning of Lent.  We'll be sitting in one of the pews, celebrating Mass and waiting for our ashes.  Then we'll walk out to face the journey.

Till tomorrow...

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Opening Day

This past Saturday was opening day for the kids. 

That meant it was time for a parade

and also

It marks sunny days spent in the park,

 picnic blankets,

loads of snacks

 lawn chairs,

excited cheers

and

perhaps some jeers

but most of all

It's 3 months of good fun

This one was wondering why she wasn't riding on one of the trucks

Next year honey, mama needs a cheering buddy too :)

BTW, Max was long gone with his team buddies.  Too bad too he looked really cute in his uniform.